Simple tips and advice on how to improve your home with this expert Home Improvement Blog.

Putting Together A Home Tool Kit – What Do You Actually Need?

In any home, it’s inevitable that things break, and will need fixing. For that, you’ll need the right tools for the job, unless you can afford to regularly shell out for new replacements for items which, for the want of a little know-how and the right equipment, can be easily repaired.

And as we Britons are renowned for our love of DIY tools, it’s something which is expected of even the least practically-minded among us.

So having a good, basic kit of tools to hand can not only help save cash – it might even lead you into starting to enjoy fixing things, and want to take on more ambitious projects.

A basic toolkit should contain at least the following:

– Flat-headed and Phillips screwdrivers – probably the most widely-used household tool, and essential for when your time comes to take that ultimate test of manhood – fitting some shelves

– Scissors – you might find you need to cut all kinds of materials. But you shouldn’t need more than one pair provided they are of good quality, and kept sharp

– Duct tape – amazingly strong and durable, this can be used to make a temporary, or even permanent, fix to all sorts of broken items and connections

– Insulating tape – this is essential for sealing off bare wires, but it’s also great for fixing plastic piping

– Utility or carpet knife – consisting of just a basic handle and a very sharp blade, this is a very useful item. Just be sure it only gets into the hands of people who know how to use it

– Round-nosed pliers – an electrician’s best friend, but also very handy for gripping or snipping wire and lots of other small metal fixings. They’re also just the job for getting into difficult to reach cavities to retrieve items which have become stuck

Several other Items can be classed as useful but not essential, and these include an adjustable spanner, for tightening – or loosening – any bolt; a can of lubricant spray, to help extricate tight screws or get rid of squeaky wheels; and finally, a tape measure, because there are lots of items you’ll need to buy for the home – such as carpets and blinds – for which you’ll need to know exactly how much you need.

Once you’ve got all these basic items, you should feel a little more confident about at least tackling the essential DIY jobs which will crop up. And as everyone knows, if you stay on top of these jobs, your conscientiousness will pay off in the long run, as others see that you’ve got a well-maintained home.